Dr. Albino Bol, the National Minister of Youth and Sports speaking during the launch of Youth Camp Activities in Juba - Credit | Lou Nelson/Eye Radio | April 25, 2022

The national Minister of Youth and Sports said Sunday the South Sudan basketball fans who were supposed to travel to Manila last month, were left behind due to a lack of funds to facilitate their journey.

Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu said only 25% of the one million US dollars approved by the government was released.

His statement comes days after a group of basketball fans alleged that they were left behind and replaced with a “political delegation” despite obtaining entry to VISAS.

Speaking to the media upon arrival at Juba International Airport this morning, Dr. Bol explained why the fans were dropped from flight to Manila.

“We took from each institution a number of people because the money that was located for the delegation, we only received a quarter of it,” Bol said.

“So, it wasn’t enough for the whole delegation to go and for the confusion that happened because I have seen some people protesting here at Juba Airport alleging that we have taken their money.”

“There is nothing like that what happened is that there was confusion between my office and the office of the vice president for the youth cluster.”

Last week, the President of the South Sudan Bright Stars Ultras, Bader Abdallah, nicknamed Kawaja, said he and 15 others were left behind after doing all preparations.

Bright Stars Ultras is a fan group that helps morale boost all South Sudan’s national teams.

The head of the national team’s supporters said members of his group were first invited by the Ministry of Youth and Sport, and they were served with entry VISA through the Office of the Vice President for Youth Cluster, Mama Rebecca Nyandeng.

According to him, they were surprisingly left behind at the last minute by the Ministry of Youth and Sport without any reason.

Khawaja expressed his disappointment a day after the country lost by a narrow margin of 101-96 to Puerto Rico in the opening of the Group B game on Saturday.

However, Minister Bol said those who protested at Juba Airport are football fans.

“There is ultras group for basketball and ultras group for football. The group that was protesting at the airport was ultras group of football and we have taken the ultras group of basketball to Philippian all of them are still there and you will see them coming back with the team.”